Cartoon Network's action-packed weekday afternoon franchise, Toonami (Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m.), introduced brand new episodes of top-rated Dragon Ball Z and a new animé series direct from Japan that rocketed double-digit delivery and ratings increases among its target kid demos, according to Nielsen Media Research. Among tweens 9-14, the block grew 24% in delivery (734,000) and 21% in rating (2.9), compared to the same time period last year. With boys 9-14, the franchise gained 34% in delivery (629,000) and 32% in rating (4.9).

Dragon Ball Z (5:30 p.m.), the ongoing adventures of Super Saiyan warrior Goku, continued to capture Toonami's largest audiences with brand new episodes that produced double-digit delivery and ratings growth among tween viewers. And the U.S. premiere of Rurouni Kenshin (6:30 p.m.) also inspired remarkable delivery and ratings increases. Highlights of both series performances vs. their corresponding time period in 2002 are as follows:

Adult Swim (Sunday-Thursday, 11 p.m.-2 a.m.), Cartoon Network's late-night franchise of animated programming for adult viewers, also made a big splash last week, scoring triple-digit delivery and ratings gains among its young male target demos. Highlights of Adult Swim's performance vs. the same time period last year include the following:

* Men 18-34 mushroomed by 198% for delivery (264,000) and by 100% for ratings (0.6).
* Men 18-24 increased by 108% for delivery (129,000) and by 100% for ratings (1.0).
* Adults 18-34 grew by 67% for delivery (291,000) and by 33% for ratings (0.4).
* Adults 18-24 improved by 132% for delivery (190,000) and by 133% for ratings (0.7).
* Since its premiere, Adult Swim is regularly #1 in men 18-24 over such live late-night programming as Jimmy Kimmel Live, Last Call with Carson Daly and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

Cartoon Network, currently seen in 82.5 million U.S. homes and 145 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s 24-hour, ad-supported cable service offering the best in animated entertainment.

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